by Elder Johnny Kim

With summer coming to a close, the new school year is now underway and the various affinity group ministries in the church are starting back up. For myself, the start of this particular school year has me feeling a bit like I am a new kid at a new school. Starting this year, I have the privilege of leading the Lumos Youth Ministry and it’s definitely a big change from leading the Single Life Ministry. Yet for all the changes that might make me anxious, I can’t help but to be excited for the year ahead and for all that God has in store for Lumos! Some of the excitement also happens to stem from my own personal experiences of when I was in youth group myself. Preparing my heart for leading Lumos this year has definitely brought about refreshing reminders of the joys that I experienced during that particular stage of my life. After all, it was during that time that I grew exponentially in my knowledge of God’s Word, became saved in Christ, and deepened in my desire to submit to His lordship.

It’s in between the time I’ve spent planning for Lumos and taking trips down my own memory lane that I’ve come to realize how I’ve gained additional perspectives toward youth group and youth ministry; perspectives that certainly weren’t on my radar back when I was in youth (when I was skinny and awkward, but only one of those descriptions “fits” me now). Perhaps through a combination of years later becoming a father, being a more spiritually mature believer (than when I was in youth group), and serving the church as an elder, some of these perspectives now can’t help but shape my heart and desires for youth ministry.

As a father, I’ve gained perspective and have come to realize more and more the importance of the duty and calling of Christian parents. And particularly as a father, passages in Psalm 78, Proverbs 4, and Ephesians 6 remind me that I am the one who is primarily responsible and accountable for the spiritual instruction of my children. But as incomplete of a representation of Christ-likeness and Christ-like living that I am even at my least sinful, I’m definitely thankful for God’s grace in providing a church with her ministries and her older men and women who can train, equip, help, and support me to fulfill my responsibility. Likewise, my desire then is that Lumos would fulfill its role in serving as a sort of “para-ministry ministry”; to come alongside parents and to help and support them in the main ministry that is them teaching and raising up their children in the Lord. Lumos will never aim to be a perfect substitute for or better option in lieu of parents faithfully heeding God’s call to be the primary disciplers of their children. Rather, my desire is that Lumos will seek to partner with parents in order that together, we might care for and love their children, pray for their souls, and teach and preach to them God’s truth and in doing so, reinforce what’s already been taught them in the home.

Secondly, as I’ve become more spiritually mature as compared to the days of my youth, I’ve come to understand the importance of holiness and living in light of the Gospel that not only saves, but sanctifies. It’s not enough just to know biblical principles. It’s not enough to simply know and understand sound theology and doctrine. In Ephesians 4:1, the Apostle Paul urges believers to live in a manner consistent with their calling in Christ; a common urging he implores in many of his other epistles. Christians ought to live consistently with what the Bible teaches, including the youngest of believers. Sound doctrine and theology is important and certainly serves to lay a solid foundation. But as in Matthew 7:24-27, the “house” is only complete and able to withstand God’s righteous judgment when one acts on the words of the Lord. Accordingly, this perspective gives way to my hope that Lumos wouldn’t merely aim to have youth who simply know biblical truths and principles, but would rather make the ultimate aim having a ministry full of fruit-bearing youth who by their obedient lives prove the genuineness of their faith. A faith that would never falter or prove false years and decades after their youth years.

Finally, being an elder in the church has given me the perspective to desire that Lumos would be a youth ministry that would take part in the greater work of the church in making disciples of Christ. My desire for us staff is that as we serve in Lumos, we might get to experience the privilege and blessing of being able to witness youth being saved and submitting their lives completely to Christ. I hope that God would use Lumos as His instrument to play even the smallest part in saving youth at an early age; not only to secure their eternal life, but to save them from sinning more and sparing them from the consequences of the sins that ensnare the youth and collegians of this world. I hope that the urgency of the Convalescent Home Ministry would always be the urgency of the Lumos Youth Ministry considering James 4:14 and the fact that even for youth seemingly with their whole lives ahead of them, tomorrow is never a guarantee.

Please pray for the Lumos Youth Ministry as we start our year! Please especially pray for me, that in light of these perspectives and desires for Lumos, I would be able to lead the ministry so that in all that we do, God would be glorified and Christ magnified through the lives of our youth!